Spring for pin-setting machines



I. GESSERT. SPRl-NG FOR PIN SETTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-4, 1919 1,393,110. Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

T72 vevzz az' UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE,

'JAcoB GESSERT, orBU-F AL'o, NEW Yonx,

. 'srn nqron PIN-SETtBING, mnon nns.

cation.

This invention relates to a pr g which is more particularly designed for yield ngly 'liolding in place the centering legsor aws of a bowlingpin setting machine although the same may, if desired, be used for other purposes. j

The object of this invention is the produc tion of a spring which is strong and durable in construction,which will not get out of place after being once mounted in. its operative position, and which is so organized that it produces a gradually increasing re-' sistance as the stress upon the same is increased without however unduly straining any parts of the spring. 7

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a bowling pin setting machine showing a set of its pin centering legs or jaws equipped with my improved springs. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of this improved spring showing the fastening screws in section. Fig. 3is a perspective view of the spring constructed in accordance with my invention.

Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Although my improved spring may be used for various purposes, the same is shown in the drawings in connection with a bowling pin setting machine. Thoseparts of this machine which are shown in the drawings comprise a vertically movable carrier 1 having a plurality of vertical openings Qtlirough each of which a bowling pin 3 is adapted to be passed downwardly, a plurality of centering legs or jaws 4 pivoted on the underside of this carrier so as to swing vertically and arranged around an opening 2'so as to engage the side of the bowling pin, springs 5 which move these jaws inwardly or toward the bowling pin so as'to center the same relatively to a predetermined point on the surface 6 of the bowling alley, a plurality of vertically movable shifting pins 7 guided in openings 8 in the carrier and engaging their lower ends withthe upper ends of the centering legs or jaws, and a shifting frame 9 engaging with the upper ends of Specification of Letters l'atenti Patented 31 11 1921 Application tiled August 4,1919, Serial No. 315.118.

"the shifting pins. Upon moving the carrier legs in their inward or operative position are constructed in accordance with my invention and in thepre-ferred form each of 'these springs is constructed as follows:

l0, 10 represent two attaching eyes which are connected with each other and arranged side by sideso as to 'form the base of the spring. These-eyesare adapted to receive screws 11, 11 or similar fastenings whereby the same are secured to the underside of the carrler ad acent to the outer side of one of the centering legs. 12 represents a coil having one end connectedwith one of the attaching'eyes. 13 represents a 'long main bearing arm connected with the opposite end of this coil and provided at its free end with a finger 14 which engages with the lower part of the rear side of the adjacent centering leg. 15 represents a short auxiliary bearing arm connected with the other eye of the base and provided at its free end with a guide 16 which is of substantially U-shaped form and arranged vertically so that its sides embrace the long bearing arm; These several members of the spring are preterably constructed integrally of resilient metal sijch as wire or spring brass, steel or the li re.

When each centering jaw is moved into its innermost or foremost position by this spring the long arm of the same is out of engagement from the bottom or how of the U-shaped guide on the short spring arm, as

clearly shown in Figs. 1 and thereby utilizing only the resilience of this long arm at this time'to hold the respective centering leg in its operative position. During the first part of the backward movement-of each centering leg the long main spring arm moves outwardly independently of the short arm and permits the centering leg to be quickly and promptly disengaged from the bowling'pin. During the last pat of the outward movement of the long spring arm together with the respective centering leg, this long spring arm engages with the bottom of the U-shaped guide on the short spring arm whereby the latter is also stressed and caused to move outwardly or backwardly with the long spring arm during the last portion of this outward movement, thereby increasing the resistance of this spring in the outermost position of the centering leg and causing the same to be promptly and quickly returned to its inner operative position the instant the pressure of the shifting pin is released. from the upper end of this leg.

By thus constructing this spring the same when secured by its base to the carrier or other support will not be liable to shift out of place but always remain definitely in its working position. By so organizing the same that only one of its arms will be active during the first part of the stressing movement of the spring and thereafter both of its spring arms and the coil receive the stress placed upon the spring a mild and sensitive F initial action of this spring is obtained and a prompt recoil when the maximum load is imposed upon the same. Furthermorethis spring is not so llable to become broken and therefore requires less frequent repairs so that the cost of maintenance of the bowling pin setting machine in which the same is used will be materially reduced.

, I claim as my invention:

1. A spring comprising a base, a coil connected with said base, a long main arm connected with said coil, a short auxiliary arm connected with the base, and means for coupling said long and short arms when both arms are subjected to high stress and which permit the said main arm to move independently of the short arm under low stress.

2. A spring constructed from wire and comprising a base having two attaching eyes which are connected with each other, a coil connected with one of said eyes, a long main bearing arm connected with said coil, a short auxiliary bearing arm connected with the other eye and a guide interposed between said arms'and operating to permit said long arm to move independently of said short arm during the first part of the stressing movement of said long arm but compelling said short arm to move with said long arm during the last part of the stressing movement of the latter.

JACOB GESSERT. 

